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Category Archives: Cats

More than half of U.S. cat owners believe that cats can be left at home alone for several days. They often will just put down a huge bowl of food and water when they leave and don’t arrange for anyone to stop by and visit.

If you’re considering leaving home for more than a day, you’ll really want to consider hiring a pet sitter or consider a boarding facility. Most cats don’t do well with change so leaving them at home is often the better choice for them.

While most cats are independent, sophisticated, and smart, they can and do get anxious and lonely without their human companions. As a professional pet sitter, we insist on seeing your kitty, at the very least, every day for a number of reasons. Here are the top four reasons:

1) Food and Water – Leaving huge amounts of food out for your cat at one time is not the best choice. Cats can gorge on their dry food and canned food can be consumed all at once or dried out and become stale. Even self feeders don’t refill the bowls themselves, we’re constantly having to “pull” down the food.

Cats need hydration, from either their wet food or from a water source. They prefer clean, fresh water. Slim can build up in stale water, water dishes can tip or they can become full of cat hair. Fresh water should be provided daily.

2)By nature, cats are very curious and enjoy exploring. Sometimes they can get themselves into sticky situations. They can become tangled in blinds, get stuck under or behind furniture, fall and be injured, get locked behind closed doors, get their collar caught in their mouth, get a nail lodged in their scratching posts, can’t move and go without access to food or water to name a few. I think you can see where I’m going here.

3) Dirty Litter Boxes – Believe it or not, cats really do prefer clean litter boxes. Full, dirty boxes are unhealthy and unsafe and will often lead to your cat not using their box altogether or worse yet, eliminating in an alternate place if it’s not cleaned regularly. A pet sitter can also monitor what’s happening in the box, any diarrhea, bloody stools/urine or a lack of evidence in the litter box activity. Having a dirty box with mounds of soiled litter won’t go over well with kitty.

4) Sick or Injured – Without human companionship, stress and anxiety may contribute to depression and cats may stop eating all together causing liver failure. It is very common for cat’s to develop urinary tract obstructions without warning, it can become very painful, and cat’s can go downhill very quickly. They may have a fall and become injured.

We recommend hiring a sitter rather than asking a friend or family member to take over. As a professional pet sitter, we get a lot of last minute requests because someone has flaked out, leaving them in the lurch or the hobby sitter didn’t show. We consider this our job and take your pets care very seriously. Having a pet sitter visit will give the attention, stimulation and care your cat needs and will put your mind at ease.

It’s your responsibility to keep your cat safe, healthy and happy, so why take a chance on something happening?

It’s that time of year again: the 4th of July, when family and friends get together for the opening of crab season, BBQ’s, and booming fireworks lighting up the night sky. While it’s fun for us, it can be terrifying for our pets.

A dog’s hearing is sensitive, hearing approximately four times better than humans. A cat’s hearing is sharp and we hear less than 1/3 of what they do.

We recommend following the steps below to ensure your pet remains safe:

Stay Calm – Pets notice our body language and react accordingly.

Keep pets indoor – familiar surroundings are the best place to keep them safe. Escort dogs outside every 3-4 hours for a potty break, use a leash if needed to keep a pet from bolting. Keep a close eye on them if attending an event.

Extreme fear of sound – can cause pets to injure themselves while trying to escape or looking for a place to hide.

Reduce the noise level by closing windows and doors, running a fan, playing a radio (classical music is best) or TV to help offset the loud firework noise.

Also close blinds or curtains and turn on lights throughout the house to help block the flashing light from fireworks.

Create a safe place – When pets are anxious or afraid, they’ll often retreat to a closet, a crate, or under a bed. Until the noise subsides, create a safe haven where a pet can retreat to when he/she feels threatened. Consider putting their favorite blanket in those areas to help create comfort and security. Offer kitty’s a cat bed or a blanket to burrow into. Most importantly, let them be, don’t force them to into something they don’t want.

Food Toxicity – BBQ’s can often offer tantalizing treats for pets, however, most of those foods can be toxic to our pets.

Be wary of offering hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, and ribs which are fatty and rich foods that can wreck havoc on your pet’s stomach, perhaps causing indigestion, diarrhea and ultimately pancreatitis.

Onions, a common condiment, are toxic and can lead to fatal poisoning while discarded bones can cause obstructions.

Natural calming cures – Try a natural approach to calm a pet’s fear. Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, made from spring water and wild flowers, has been used successfully on pets who have a fear of thunder and fireworks. More information can be found here: http://bachflowerpets.com

Thundershirt’s, similar to swaddling an infant, gives a constant pressure on a dog or cat’s torso to help reduce tension or anxiety.

Have all ID in place – Pets can easily become separated from us during an event. A gate may be left open at a bbq or they may find a way to escape during a backyard potty break. Ensure your pet wears a durable collar with up-to-date information, tags, or is microchipped. This will help increase your chances of being reunited with your pet should he/she becomes lost.

For anyone who has lost a pet or comes across a lost pet, the following are animal shelters in our area: